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| Judi Dench stars in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel |
An Opportunity for Life
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it's making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tena Desai). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone's secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.
Evidently the Marigold Hotel is a brothel. Just ask Madge, "Lordy lord, have mercy on my ovaries." Seriously, there's a lot of sex (multiple partners, etc.) So much so, you may want to trade in your little blue pill for a trip to India. Otherwise, it's just more of the same, including an over-zealous Sonny, who knows how to sell, "Why die here, where I can die there?" Expect familiar, friendly faces, and rampant optimism. Our audience skewed older, and there's no reason why there can't be a third Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in the offing. Harmless fun, reasonably entertaining.
Grade: C+
